When Chun Zhu, Zhao Xingtian, Black Ox, and the others came downstairs.
Lu Changfeng was engrossed in a piece of gossip news.
Among the various martial arts newspapers in Jiangnan Prefecture, the Thousand Knowledge Sect's Hundred Knowledge Thousand Knows was the most official.
Its monthly updates—such as the prefecture-wide rankings of XX strength, the national rankings of XX strength, the XX Swordsmanship rankings, and the XX spirit artifact rankings—were all recognized as authoritative.
However, Lu Changfeng, who had already planned to live in seclusion, was not very interested in those things.
The Wind Flower Snow Moon published by the Flowing Flower Sect suited his tastes much better.
The secrets, strange incidents, and risqué tales about the various sects and schools of Jiangnan Prefecture recorded in it were even more fascinating than the webnovels from his previous life.
After all, although the writing in Wind Flower Snow Moon was exaggerated, it was indeed based on reality. It was still somewhat different from pure fantasy novels.
Most importantly, one could actually find the protagonists of certain stories and ask them whether the events were true.
Seeing that Lu Changfeng was so engrossed, the three of them also picked up newspapers and began reading.
After one look, they were hooked as well.
How could such wonderful new things not have made their way into Yunyang Prefecture?
Chun Zhu was reading a newspaper published by a female sect for female Martial Artists.
Zhao Xingtian naturally read Hundred Knowledge Thousand Knows, desperately searching for his own name.
As for Black Ox—
That fellow was illiterate. He held the newspaper upside down, and after glancing at it a few times and finding it boring, he lowered his head and went back to eating.
Lu Changfeng also put away the newspaper. After eating his fill, he took Black Ox to inquire about the route by water to Jiangcheng.
Traveling downstream by water was faster, and one could also enjoy the journey aboard a ship instead of suffering through the roads on horseback.
Jiangnan Prefecture had abundant waterways.
Of the thirty-six cities, all but those three had waterways connecting them to the others.
There was a river right in the center of Xingcheng.
After asking around along the river, Lu Changfeng and Black Ox found a cargo ship that went directly to Jiangzhou.
The cargo ship had three levels. The bottom two were used to store goods, while the top level could carry passengers.
Going downstream, they would have to switch through several waterways where the tributaries branched off, but they could reach Jiangzhou after six days.
Lu Changfeng reserved their places on the ship and arranged to come to the wharf early the next morning to board.
After arranging the journey,
Lu Changfeng and Black Ox returned to the inn to rest.
With nothing else to do at the inn, Lu Changfeng practiced the Bloodthirsty Saber several times.
With the Blade Supremacy talent, he progressed through this saber technique extremely quickly.
Lu Changfeng also wanted to practice the Heavenly Body Tempering Blade Technique, but unfortunately, the long raw-iron saber had not been forged yet.
He would have to wait until they reached Jiangcheng and find a blacksmith's shop to have it remade before he could begin practicing.
The night grew deep.
As Lu Changfeng pondered how he would cultivate in seclusion in Jiangzhou, he wondered whether he should fulfill his master's wishes and open a Changle Martial Arts School,
or join some other faction.
In fact, Lu Changfeng had many options available to him now. With Zhao Xingtian by his side, he had found the best candidate for copying a natural endowment.
However, Lu Changfeng also knew that Zhao Xingtian could not stay by his side for long.
Having inherited the complete Heavenly Blade Technique of the Giant Elephant Woman, Lu Changfeng naturally knew the true reason Zhao Xingtian had remained beside him.
Dragging his exhausted body, Lu Changfeng slowly fell asleep.
In a room somewhere on the same floor, the window opened softly.
A figure lightly borrowed strength from the windowsill, then vaulted upward and landed on the roof of the inn.
"Young Sect Master." A swordsman was already waiting on the roof. He lowered his head and addressed the newcomer respectfully.
The person who had just leaped onto the roof was none other than Zhao Xingtian!
"What is it?" Zhao Xingtian asked coldly.
The swordsman quickly lowered his head and said, "The Sect Master learned that you intend to go to Jiangzhou and urges you to return to Luocheng as soon as possible. Jiangzhou is too far from Luocheng, and the sect's forces cannot protect you there."
"I naturally know that. I will act discreetly in Jiangnan Prefecture."
"Refining the Jade Bone depends on a tranquil heart. If protecting that fellow could not calm my mind and allow the Jade Bone to condense quickly, why would I remain beside a mere ordinary Blood Tempering Martial Artist?"
"I cannot return for the time being."
Zhao Xingtian still lied to the swordsman. The longer he spent with Lu Changfeng, the less he understood him.
Lu Changfeng's talent, spirit, and perseverance were the strongest he had ever seen.
Especially after learning Lu Changfeng's true age the day before yesterday, he understood that this fellow surpassed him completely in natural endowment and talent.
Zhao Xingtian knew that Lu Changfeng would absolutely not remain a mere thing in a pond in the future.
The less he understood Lu Changfeng, the more he could not figure out why Luo Xingyun had been willing to return to the sect back then, or why he had been willing to pass the Moon Chasing Sword Seed on to him before his death.
There was clearly already an unparalleled prodigy by his side.
Is it because I'm his disciple?
But ten years ago, Luo Xingyun had clearly been unwilling to take him away.
Is it because he thought I would obtain more resources within the sect?
Now the man was gone. Before his death, Luo Xingyun had even poured all his strength into passing the Moon Chasing Sword Seed to Zhao Xingtian without leaving behind a single final word.
Caught in a vortex of thoughts,
Zhao Xingtian felt as if his heart were bound tight, leaving him unable to breathe.
In such a state of mind, if he left Lu Changfeng, he had no idea when he would finish tempering his Jade Bone.
Lu Changfeng, Lu Changfeng, you really are a poisonous drug.
Zhao Xingtian waved his hand, dismissing the swordsman. "Your cultivation is already far behind mine. There is no need for you to follow me. Return to the Xuanyuan Sword Sect and cultivate in seclusion within the secret realm."
The swordsman hesitated. Seeing the impatience in the Young Sect Master's eyes, he cupped his hands and left using his lightness skill.
Zhao Xingtian looked up at the sky. A full moon hung high overhead, and specks of moonlight illuminated the world until it was as bright as broad daylight.
"Admiring the moon alone?"
Lu Changfeng slowly climbed up through the stairway in the open courtyard.
"No. I merely gave a few instructions to my Sword Servant." Zhao Xingtian answered frankly.
"Sword Servant? What is that?" Lu Changfeng asked curiously.
Zhao Xingtian drew a slight breath and slowly began to explain.
It turned out that every Sect Master of the Xuanyuan Sword Sect had a Sword Servant.
This Sword Servant would be selected while the Sect Master was still the Young Sect Master, voluntarily becoming the Sect Master's Sword Servant.
From that day onward, the Sword Servant would become that person's complete vassal in body and soul.
The Sword Servant cultivated the techniques cultivated by his chosen master, obeyed only that person's orders, followed his master like a shadow, and, when necessary, had to die in his master's place.
"Can you call your Sword Servant out so I can meet him?" Lu Changfeng asked curiously.
"I sent him away." Zhao Xingtian replied sullenly.
Lu Changfeng rolled his eyes. "Didn't you just say that a Sword Servant has to follow you like a shadow?"
"His cultivation is far behind mine, so following me is meaningless. It is better to let him return and cultivate properly, lest I inherit the position of Sect Master in the future while he is still pathetically weak." Zhao Xingtian explained.
Lu Changfeng nodded in understanding.
"How long will you stay in Jiangzhou with me?"
Zhao Xingtian estimated the speed at which his Jade Bone was condensing. "About half a year."
"Aren't you going to ask how I knew you were leaving?"
"You are an unparalleled prodigy. You will always know what you ought to know."
Lu Changfeng was left speechless for a moment. After calculating, he figured that half a year would be enough to copy Zhao Xingtian's natural endowment several times. That should be enough.
"Forget it. We're taking the ship tomorrow. I used to get seasick, so I'll go downstairs and rest first." Lu Changfeng turned and left.
As he climbed down the stairs, Zhao Xingtian's voice came from behind him. "You need not worry. Whether now or in the future, you and I are like you and my master."
The only response to Zhao Xingtian was a long yawn.
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